30/6/2021 Dictionary Skills

How to use a dictionary

Authors: Belchior Nhaca;Ezequiel

Dimande;Faustina Mandenga; Jacinta Massango &
Sidney Mutxato (Tutor: Dra. Dulce Fenhane )
UNIVERSIDADE PEDAGOGICA DE MAPUTO
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 2
WHAT IS A DICTIONARY? ........................................................................................................................ 3
WHERE DID DICTIONARIES COME FROM? .............................................................................................. 3
Types of dictionaries ............................................................................................................................... 3
1. Monolingual dictionary ................................................................................................................... 3
2. Bilingual dictionaries ....................................................................................................................... 4
3. Specialized dictionaries ................................................................................................................... 4
4. General dictionaries ........................................................................................................................ 4
5. Thesauruses .................................................................................................................................... 4
6. Etymological dictionary ................................................................................................................... 4
7. Biographical dictionary ................................................................................................................... 5
8. Linguistics dictionaries .................................................................................................................... 5
9. Rhyming dictionary ......................................................................................................................... 5
10. Visual dictionary ............................................................................................................................ 5
11. Electronic dictionary ..................................................................................................................... 5
12. Reverse dictionary ........................................................................................................................ 6
13. Glossaries ...................................................................................................................................... 6
Importance of a dictionary ..................................................................................................................... 6
Using an English to English dictionary efficiently ................................................................................... 6
Know when to use a dictionary........................................................................................................... 6
Find the right dictionary for you ......................................................................................................... 6
Read the introduction ......................................................................................................................... 7
Learn the abbreviations ...................................................................................................................... 7
Learn the guide to pronunciation ....................................................................................................... 7
Find the section of the dictionary with the first letter of your word.................................................. 7
Read the guide words ......................................................................................................................... 7
Read the definition ............................................................................................................................. 7
Have fun .............................................................................................................................................. 8
Symbols and Parts of Speech .................................................................................................................. 8
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 9
Referencies ............................................................................................................................................. 9

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Introduction

Dictionaries are among the most readily available, widely used, and cheapest
learning resources but they are also among the most difficult to use (Wright 1998: 5)

Dictionary is a friend; philosopher and guide for a student intent upon exploring the
beauty of a language at different levels. It can be of various types, depending upon the level
and purpose of the users. They can be used for etymology (the history of the word) ,spelling
,meaning ,grammar ,pronunciation and stress, usage (examples), derivatives, compounds (e.g.
fill in a form).Besides they can be used to look up words ,find and explore meanings ,choosing
the right collocation, idiom and phrasal verb, choosing the right word from the context.

Good mechanics sometimes use a current repair manual when repairing a car, and cooks
often consult a recipe book, but only a few people (both at school and at work) regularly use a
dictionary. When you have completed this module, you will know more about dictionaries than
most people know and be well on your way to getting the “dictionary habit”.
It shows that you are serious about using English well and making sure people understand
exactly what you are trying to say.

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WHAT IS A DICTIONARY?
A dictionary is a reference book containing words, usually arranged in alphabetical
order, and it gives information about their meaning, pronunciation, etymology, and uses.
Any book, or set of books, which is complete as it was written is called unabridged because
no part of the original has been left out. The dictionaries sold in most bookstores are shortened
versions of a complete dictionary and are called abridged dictionaries because some of the
original has been left out.

WHERE DID DICTIONARIES COME FROM?

The first book that we would recognize as an English dictionary appeared in England
in 1721, about 280 years ago. Samuel Johnson in England, however, published the best-known
early dictionary, in 1755. He recorded and defined the words that he read and heard everyday.
His dictionary also standardized the spelling of many words. Until about 1900, whenever
people used the word dictionary, they meant Johnson’s Dictionary. His dictionary is still
consulted today to find the meaning of a word as it was used in his time. Today, there are many
different dictionaries available. Some are small enough to fit in a pocket or purse; some are so
big they require their own stand.

Types of dictionaries
There is a vast amount of different dictionaries available for users of the English
language, e.g. (Monolingual dictionaries; Bilingual dictionaries; Specialized dictionaries;
General dictionaries; Thesauruses; Etymological dictionaries ;Biographical dictionaries;
Linguistics dictionaries; Rhyming dictionaries; Visual dictionaries; Electronic dictionaries;
Reverse dictionaries; Glossaries…). All these dictionaries share the aspect, they provide
information about English words and items, but they are also very different and need to be
distinguished from each other. One needs to know where to find the information asked for in a
particular case, and one certainly needs more than one dictionary for different aspects of the
English language.

1. Monolingual dictionary
Explains the meaning of a word in the language that you are learning. The monolingual
dictionary helps to understand words in reading and listen, helps to find words that you need
for speaking and writing and helps to remember words.

When we want to be more precise and understand the full nuance of a particular word,
we need to start thinking in the target language that is when a monolingual dictionary really
starts to become useful. The others advantages of using a monolingual are that You learn ways
how to describe something without needing to know that one word and You get to know more
examples of how the word is used in context.

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2. Bilingual dictionaries
Bilingual dictionaries are dictionaries used to translate words or phrases from one
language to another.

3. Specialized dictionaries
Specialized dictionaries are dictionaries that cover relatively restricted set phenomena.
In addition, referred as technical dictionaries, is a dictionary that focuses upon specific subject
field as opposed to a dictionary that comprehensively contains words from the lexical of a
specific language or languages.

There are three types of specialized dictionaries: Multi-field dictionary: It extensively

covers tones of subjects, areas or fields. Single-Field dictionary: It covers specific subjects,
areas.
Sub-field dictionary: This one covers a more specialized area or field such as marriage law.

4. General dictionaries
General dictionaries are dictionaries that contains words of the language that are of
general use, representing various spheres of life and presenting a complete picture of the
general language.

5. Thesauruses
Thesaurus is a dictionary of synonyms, or words with similar meanings. For instance,
when you are working on a piece of writing, you may find that you have used the word “nice”
repeatedly. This is boring for your readers and does not allow you to say what you mean clearly.
If you use a thesaurus to look up the word “nice”, you will find many alternatives listed like
“pretty”, “flavourful”, “pleasant”, “polite” and many more. You simply read the list and pick
the word that best carries the meaning you want.

Thesaurus are available in two different types, depending on how the contents are
organized.
If you need a synonym for nice, simply look the word up as you would in the dictionary.
The second type of thesaurus may seem a little more complicated at first, but it offers a wide
range of words to choose. The entry word lists a variety of categories relating to the different
meanings of the word you looked up.

WARNING: It is very important, when using a thesaurus, to check the meaning of any new or
unfamiliar words you plan to use by looking in the dictionary. Many writers have found
themselves in big trouble by carelessly picking a word from a thesaurus, thinking they knew
its meaning. Later, they were embarrassed to discover that they had chosen a less than perfect
word.

6. Etymological dictionary
An etymological dictionary shows the history of a word from its date of introduction to
the present. It traces the development of various changes in interpretation and meaning. For

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many words in any language, the etymology will be uncertain, disputed, or simply unknown.
In such cases, depending on the space available, an etymological dictionary will present various
suggestions and perhaps make a judgement on their likelihood, and provide references to a full
discussion in special literature.

7. Biographical dictionary
All biographical dictionaries consists of an alphabetical arrangement of surnames
containing the critical dates and events associated with the named individuals included in the
dictionaries. Bibliographical dictionaries can be compiled along general lines or restricted to
specific occupations and professions (Artists, Musicians), or some other characteristics that the
contents of a given dictionary share (dictionaries of a women for instance or winners of Nobel
prizes).

Biographical dictionaries also differ in the type of information supplied. In some cases,
one might only find critical dates and little professional or personal information while in others
the compiler attempts to supply as much information as can be found.

8. Linguistics dictionaries
A linguistics dictionary is used to study the nature, structure and variations of
language including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics
and pragmatics.

9. Rhyming dictionary
Rhyming dictionary is a specialist dictionary designed for use in writing poetry and
lyrics. In a rhyming dictionary, words are categorized into equivalence classes that consists of
words that rhyme with one another.

10. Visual dictionary

Visual dictionary is a dictionary that primarily uses pictures to illustrate the meaning of
words. For each theme, an image is labelled with the correct word to identify each component
of the item in question.

11. Electronic dictionary

Electronic dictionary is a dictionary whose data exists in digital form and can be
accessed through a number of different media. Electronic dictionaries can be found in several
forms, including software installed on tablet or desktops computers, mobile apps and web
applications.

These are some good online dictionaries. The first two are designed for English
language learners.

 Learners Dictionary at http://www.learnersdictionary.com/

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online at
https://www.ldoceonline.com/
 Merriam Webster at https://www.merriam-webster.com/

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12. Reverse dictionary
In a reverse word dictionary, the last letter alphabetizes the entries first, then next to
last, and so on. In them, words with the same suffix appear together. This can be useful for
linguistics and poets looking for words endings with a particular suffix.

13. Glossaries
A glossary also known as a vocabulary is an alphabetical list of terms in a domain of
knowledge with the definitions for those terms. Traditionally, a glossary appears at the end of
a book and includes either newly introduced, uncommon, or specialized terms.

Importance of a dictionary

It can be an extremely useful learning resource, especially as it makes the learner more
independent of the teacher. A good dictionary can help you understand your subject better,
improve your communication and improve your grades by making sure you are using words
correctly. Dictionaries are so important because they allow us to:

 Find the English translation of a word in your language;

 Check the spelling of a word;
 Check the plural of a noun or a tense of a sentence;
 Find the synonym or antonym of a word;
 Find out about the register of a word ;
 Find examples of the use of a word in natural language.

Using an English to English dictionary efficiently

As we have already seen, if you are studying a language, you will need a dictionary.
A dictionary is only helpful if you use it the right way. If you use a dictionary the wrong way,
it will make your learning process more difficult, therefore, in odder to use Dictionary
efficiently you should consider the following steps:

Know when to use a dictionary

Do not reach for your dictionary every time you do not understand something when reading or
listening. When you find a new word while reading, finish the sentence or the paragraph, see
weather you can guess the meaning through the context.

Find the right dictionary for you

Some dictionaries are better for one purpose than others are. Decide how you are going to use
your dictionary. Check several thoroughly before you decide which one to buy. Are the letters

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big enough to read easily? Does it contain all the kinds of information presented in this module?
Does it have clear diagrams of plants, animals, etc.? Are the definitions clear?

Here are some facts to consider when buying a dictionary:

 First, larger dictionaries include special reference sections at the beginning and the end.
Check to see which one contains the kind of information you are likely to need.
 In general, the bigger the dictionary is the better and more complete it is likely to be.
 The most expensive dictionary may not necessarily be the best one for your purposes.
 Decide whether you want a dictionary with British, Canadian, or American
pronunciations, meanings, and spelling.
 A hard cover dictionary lasts longer than a paperback dictionary.
 Eventually you might want to own more than one dictionary

Read the introduction

The best way to learn how to use a particular dictionary effectively is to read its introductory
section where you will find how the entries are arranged. The introductory section of your
dictionary will explain important information such as the abbreviations and pronunciation of
the symbols used throughout the entries.

Learn the abbreviations

Dictionaries often have word’s abbreviations in the definitions. Typically, a dictionary will
have a list of abbreviations near the front of the book. For example, ‘Adj.’ stands for adjective
and it will tell you what abbreviated words are.

Learn the guide to pronunciation

If you immediately jump right into reading the dictionary without understanding the
pronunciation guide, it can be difficult to figure it out. The pronunciation of a word will be
placed between two reversed virgules (\ \) and will typically be printed in italics.

Find the section of the dictionary with the first letter of your word
Dictionaries follows alphabetical order. For example, "Dogs" begins with "d" which means
that it will be in the section after "c" and before "e".

Read the guide words

These two words at the top of the page, tell you what types of words are on the page. These
words will help you find the word you are looking for in the right letter section.

Read the definition

Once you have located the word, it will tell you exactly what it means. The definitions
themselves daunt most of the people because they can involve words that you have to look up
then.
See if you can figure out the meaning from the examples sentences provided and if not, look
up the words you are not sure.

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Have fun
Simply browse a dictionary to enlighten yourself about new words now and then. Open the
dictionary up to any page and scan the page for words that are unfamiliar or seem interesting.
Pinpoint them, read the definition and try to add the new word to your thinking or talking
during the next few days until it becomes a remembered part of your natural vocabulary.

Play the dictionary game with friends. This consists of getting some friends together
and a dictionary. The first player looks up a challenging word and uses it in a sentence. The
other players have to guess if the use of the word is accurate or an outright fabrication.

Symbols and Parts of Speech

Once you find the word you need, you will see many different symbols next to the word.
Here are a few symbols from the Longman Advanced American Dictionary:

The dots (.) between the letters of a word separate

the syllables. As you can see, this word has four syllables.

These are the sound symbols for this word to help you
pronounce it accurately. To know which sound a symbol stands for, look for the “Pronunciation
Table” of your dictionary, which is usually within the first or last pages of dictionaries.

Dictionaries will often use abbreviations to mark academic words. In this case, Ac
indicates that this word is included in the Academic Word List, which means you will probably
see it in many academic texts and you will likely need to use it in writing assignments.

Dictionaries will often use symbols to mark most frequently used words. In this
case, W2 indicates that this word is among the top 2,000 words most frequently used in writing.
The W stands for writing and 2 stands for 2,000.

This n. indicates the part of speech of this word (noun). Some words can be used as
different parts of speech without changing the form or spelling, so you might see more than
one part of speech indicated within the dictionary entry.

The C stands for “count” and the “U” stands for “uncount,” which means that this
word can be used as both a countable and uncountable nouns, depending on the context.

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Conclusion

As we have sited in the introduction, “Dictionaries are among the most readily available,
widely used, and cheapest learning resources but they are also among the most difficult to use
by (Wright 1998: 5)”. Therefore, with the information provided above, we expect you to be
promptly equipped with all the essential skills one needs, to work successfully with
dictionaries. When working with a dictionary, cogitate that you may be working with a limited
version (abridged) of the large main source (unbridged) dictionary; therefore, you may have
a very limited source of information in hands to work with. Knowing that there is a wide range
of different dictionaries available worldwide, and that each one is ready to serve a very specific
purpose, choose them accordingly. Know for example, that what you may find in a
monolingual dictionary, you will unluckily find in a bilingual, etc… Understand the language
of a dictionary before exploring it. Read the entry page to decode nuances of that specific
dictionary, example, there you may find information related to the symbols used, abbreviation,
etc… so you need to know what that information means and how to use it. Last by not least,
have fun in the process, very cautiously, extend your curiosity beyond your means and it will
greatly reward you throughout the learning process.

Referencies
http://www.mtsac.edu/writingcenter/ Building 26B, Room 1561 (909) 274-5325

http://www.wikpedia.com

http://www.learnersdictionary.com

https://www.ldoceonline.com/

https://www.merriam-webster.com/